Consumer Advisory Bulletin, Counterfeit Check Scams, July 2009

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division receives hundreds of calls and consumer complaints every year. Follow these tips to avoid unexpected expense and disappointments. This record is about:Counterfeit Check Scams : Counterfeit checks plus wiring money usually adds up to fraud.

Consumer Advisory Bulletin, Consumer “Private Right of Action” -- What Consumers Need to Know, August 2009

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division receives hundreds of calls and consumer complaints every year. Follow these tips to avoid unexpected expense and disappointments. This record is about:Consumer “Private Right of Action” -- What Consumers Need to Know

Low-pressure environment and remodelling of the forearm vein in Brescia-Cimino haemodialysis access.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine which, and to what extent, haemodynamic parameters contribute to the remodelling of the venous limb of the Brescia-Cimino haemodialysis access. METHODS: The dimensions of the radial artery and the venous limb of the haemodialysis access were measured by an echo-tracking technique. In six ESRD patients undergoing primary arteriovenous fistula (AVF) formation, vessel diameter, wall thickness, blood pressure and blood flow were measured after the operation, and at 1 and 3 months follow-up. The contralateral forearm vessels in their native position served as baseline values for comparison. RESULTS: The diameter of the proximal antecubital vein progressively increased over the study period without reaching significant differences (4430, 5041 and 6620 microm at weeks 1, 4 and 12 respectively), whereas the intima-media thickness remained unchanged. The venous dilatation was associated with a reduction of the mean shear stress that culminated after the operation and progressively returned to normal venous values at 3 months (24.5 vs 10.4 dyne/cm(2), P<0.043). Thus the venous limb of the AVF undergoes eccentric hypertrophy as demonstrated by the increase in wall cross-sectional area (4.42 vs 6.32 mm(2) at week 1 vs week 12, P<0.028). At the time of the operation, the blood pressure in the AVF was 151+/-14/92.4+/-11 mmHg vs 49+/-19/24.5+/-6 mmHg (means+/-SEM) for the radial artery and the venous limb of the vascular access, respectively. One year after the operation the blood pressure in the venous limb had not changed: 42+/-14/25.3+/-7 mmHg (means+/-SEM). Under these conditions, the systolo-diastolic diameter changes observed in the radial artery and the antecubital vein were within a similar range at all time points: 56+/-17 vs 90+/-26 microm (means+/-SEM) at week 12. CONCLUSIONS: The increased circumferential stress resulting from the flow-mediated dilatation rather than the elevation of blood pressure appears to represent the main contributing factor to the eccentric hypertrophy of the venous limb of Brescia-Cimino haemodialysis access.

Lumboperitoneal shunting for pseudotumor cerebri.

To clarify the appropriate role of lumboperitoneal (LP) shunting in the surgical management of pseudotumor cerebri (PTC), we retrospectively analyzed the clinical data from 30 patients who underwent this procedure. We found LP shunting to be an effective means of acutely lowering intracranial pressure. Symptoms of increased intracranial pressure improved in 82% of patients. Among 14 eyes with impaired visual acuity, 10 (71%) improved by at least two lines. Worsening of vision occurred in only one eye. Of 28 eyes with abnormal Goldmann perimetry, 18 (64%) improved and none worsened. The incidence of serious complications was low. The major drawback of LP shunting was the need for frequent revisions in a few patients. The reason for poor shunt tolerance in certain individuals is unclear. In PTC, LP shunting should be considered as the first surgical procedure for patients with severe visual loss at presentation or with intractable headache (with or without visual loss). After shunting it is important to identify patients who are shunt intolerant.

Sant Julià de Ramis y Puig Rom: dos ejemplos de yacimientos con armamento y equipamiento militar visigodo en el noreste peninsular

We present in this work a couple of weapons and objects related to the military equipment of early VIII century from two sites on Girona's province: the castellum of Sant Julià de Ramis (in the municipality of the same name), and the fort of Puig Rom (in Roses). The comparation of these materials has permitted to recompose a quite complete panoply with various types of knives and daggers, shield-handles, axes, spearheads and javelinheads, tips (regatones), arrowheads, belt-buckles and some buckles and horse harness elements

Consumer Advisory Bulletin, How to Deal With Credit Card Offers, October 2009

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division receives hundreds of calls and consumer complaints every year. Follow these tips to avoid unexpected expense and disappointments. This record is about: How to Deal With Credit Card Offers

Statewide Transportation Improvement Program 2010-2013

Iowa’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) has been developed in conformance with the guidelines prescribed by 23 USC. The STIP is generated to provide the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) a listing of all projects that are candidates for federal aid from the FHWA and FTA for four federal fiscal years (FFY). Preceding the listings of federal-aid candidates are general comments concerning Iowa’s public participation process for selection of federal-aid projects and the basis for funding the proposed projects. Documents evidencing the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (Iowa DOT) authority to act concerning matters related to transportation, federal-aid expenditures and approvals of Metropolitan Planning Organizations’ (MPOs) Transportation Improvements Programs (TIPs) have been provided in past STIP’s and can be provided again upon request. The projects identified within the 2010-2013 STIP are divided into two groups. Projects proposed for funding from FHWA programs are shown first. FTA programs follow. Maps are included that identify locations of Iowa DOT District Planners, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), Regional Planning affiliations (RPAs), and transit systems.

Consumer Advisory Bulletin; Beware of “Foreclosure Rescue Scams, January 2010

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Consumer Advisory Bulletin; Beware of Avoid Rapid Tax-Refund Loans, February 2010

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Buckle-up Baby, May 2006

Six tips on how to keep your child safe in car seats, the correct way to buckle in babies into car seats.

Buckle-up Kid, May 2006

Six tips on how to keep your toddler and children safe in car seats, the correct way to buckle in them into car seats and seats belts.

Consumer Advisory Bulletin; New Protections for Credit Card Consumers, March 2010

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division receives hundreds of calls and consumer complaints every year. Follow these tips to avoid unexpected expense and disappointments. This record is about: New Protections for Credit Card Consumers

Asymptomatic high flow subclavian steal in a patient with hemodialysis access.

Subclavian steal phenomenon due to proximal subclavian artery stenosis or occlusion is not un-common but often remains asymptomatic. We describe the case of a 66-year-old man with end-stage renal disease hemodialysed through a brachio-brachial loop graft of the left forearm. Echo-Doppler precerebral examination showed a high reversed flow of 570 ml/min in the ipsilateral vertebral artery. After successful endovascular recanalization of the subclavian artery, access blood flow increased and vertebral flow decreased to 30 ml/min. Complete neurological examination was normal both before and after endovascular treatment. This case demonstrates how high a subclavian steal can be without causing symptoms and how well precerbral and cerebral circulation can adapt to hemodynamic changes.

Consumer Advisory Bulletin; The U.S. Census;Be Counted, but Don’t be Cheated, April 2010

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Consumer Advisory Bulletin; Prevent Home Repair Scams and Disputes, May 2010

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division receives hundreds of calls and consumer complaints every year. Follow these tips to avoid unexpected expense and disappointments. This record is about: Prevent Home Repair Scams and Disputes